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Pagel of 3 <br />WSW Issue #1688 <br />September 22, 2006 <br />CONGRESSIONAL UPDATEIWATER <br />RESOURCES <br />Dam Safety /Corps of Engineers /FEMA <br />The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, on September 20, reported by voice vote the <br />National Dam Safety Program Act of 2006 (H.R. 4981). The bill was introduced on March 16, by Rep. John <br />"Randy" Kuhl (R -NY), and cosponsored by Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D -HI) and Rep. Jim Matheson (D -UT). It <br />requires, rather than authorizes the Secretary of the Army, acting through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to <br />update and maintain an inventory of dams, including an assessment of each dam based on either federal or state <br />safety inspections. <br />It also requires that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) prepare a strategic plan for dam <br />safety and establish performance measures, goals, priorities and target completion dates. To be eligible for <br />federal assistance, according to the Congressional Research Service, a state dam safety program would have to <br />have: (1) authority to require or perform inspections at least every five years for those dams and reservoirs that <br />pose a significant threat to human life and property; (2) a procedure for more detailed and frequent safety <br />inspections; and (3) authority to issue notices to require owners of dams to install and monitor safety <br />instrumentation. The bill also reauthorizes appropriations for the National Dam Safety Program, the National Dam <br />Inventory, and research, training and staff. A hearing was held on July 27. <br />The Committee also reported H.R. 1105, introduced by Rep. Sue Kelly (R -NY), to amend the National Dam <br />Safety Program Act to provide grants to states for use in rehabilitating publicly -owned dams that fail to meet <br />minimum safety standards and pose an unacceptable risk to the public. The bill authorizes $350M over four <br />years, with $50M for FY2007 and $100M for FY2008 through FY2010. <br />On the Senate side, companion legislation (S.2735), introduced by Christopher Bond (R -MO) and Daniel <br />Akaka (D -HI) last May, an action is pending on the Senate floor (Legislative Calendar No. 511). In his introductory <br />remarks, Rep. Bond said, "The goal of this program, administered by FEMA, has been to advance dam safety in <br />the U.S. and prevent loss of life and property damage from dam failures at both the Federal and State <br />programmatic levels.... The National Dam Safety Program Act provides much needed assistance to State dam <br />safety programs, which are responsible for regulating 95 percent of the 80,000 dams in the U.S. The States <br />receive training assistance for their dam safety engineers and State grant assistance based on the number of <br />dams in the State. The National Dam Safety Program, currently administered by FEMA... expires on Sept. 30, and <br />needs to be reauthorized." <br />Senator Akaka added, "There are approximately 79,000 dams registered in the National Inventory of Dams. <br />However, there are many more dams that are small and unregulated. This bill provides funding for State dam <br />safety programs to enhance their oversight and support abilities.... The National Dam Safety Program delivers <br />vital Federal resources to State governments to improve their dam safety programs by providing funds for <br />training, technical assistance, research, and support. Federal incentive grants are awarded to States to enhance <br />their dam safety programs. In addition, funds have been used to hire staff for inspections, pay for specialized <br />training, and develop specialized mapping in the event that a dam failure necessitates evacuation." He explained, <br />"approximately $12 million [is] authorized for each fiscal year, $8 million is divided among the States to improve <br />safety programs and $2 million is allocated for research to identify more effective techniques to assess, construct, <br />and monitor dams. In addition, $700,000 is available for training assistance for State engineers, and $1 million is <br />used for the National Inventory of Dams." <br />He concluded, "The costs of failing to maintain dams properly are extremely high. There have been at least 29 <br />dam failures in the United States during the past 2 years causing more than $200 million in property damages... <br />http:/ /vvww.westgov.org/wswc /1688.htm1 10/24/2006 <br />